The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has welcomed the new United States (US) tariff exemptions, which include oranges as a citrus variety.
In the statement, the CGA said in the past season, South Africa shipped 4.3 million 15kg cartons of oranges to the US. Even though the 2025 season has concluded, the new exemption is great news for the 2026 season, which starts around April 2026.
The association said the exemption once again makes South African oranges competitive in the US market, a market that holds opportunities for increased exports and local job creation.
Hopeful for other soft citrus varieties
“The 30% US tariffs on South African imports only came into effect in August 2025, towards the end of South Africa’s 2025 season. It therefore had a limited impact on citrus exports to the US, especially because growers were able to increase and fast-track shipments to the US before the tariff deadline,” the CGA stated.
The chief executive officer of CGA, Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, said South Africa has been a partner to the US in citrus supply for many years.
“In their summer, when their own growers are out of season, we supply them with quality citrus. This keeps consumers in the category, ensuring stability and access to affordable imported fruit.
“As is understood, mandarin (soft citrus) varieties are, however, not exempt from tariffs. Our mandarins are popular in the US. The US should consider extending the current exemption to include mandarins and other citrus varieties, because they share similar market dynamics and supply chain vulnerabilities,” he said.
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Chairperson of the CGA and himself a citrus grower in Citrusdal in the Western Cape, Gerrit van der Merwe, said supply steadiness is not a luxury; it is a vital hedge against volatility for the American citrus industry, and an example of how global trade benefits everyday American consumers.
He added that there will be some big smiles in the farming community.
“Citrus as a fresh, healthy product is also uniquely valuable. It helps keep Americans healthy. This announcement takes some pressure off our community. We have been deeply concerned about the future of our valley for many months,” Van der Merwe said.
There is a marked appetite for South African citrus in the US. Since 2017, citrus exports to the US from South Africa have almost doubled.
Ntshabele expressed, “We hope the trade negotiations currently taking place between South Africa and the US will take the immense value of all South African citrus varieties to the American consumer into account.”
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A booming 2025 citrus export season
Meanwhile, the minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, congratulated the South African citrus industry following the announcement of a record-breaking 2025 export season, delivering 203.4 million 15 kg cartons to global markets.
“This achievement by the industry is a testament to the resilience and strategic foresight of our citrus growers, workers and industry leadership. Hitting over 203 million cartons for the export market is a powerful indicator of the sector’s vital role in our economy, its capacity to create jobs, and its contribution to our country’s foreign earnings,” he said.
He added that the department of agriculture will continue to work closely and in partnership with the industry to navigate the logistical challenges and grow, retain and optimise market access to create more jobs and earn the much-needed foreign exchange.
“This industry remains the largest export industry in the agricultural sector by value. It continues to reinforce the role of the fruit industry, which remains the cornerstone of the agricultural sector in the country and a national economy stabiliser in times of a national economic crisis, as witnessed during the Covid-19 epidemic,” Steenhuisen said.
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